Judge orders study of wolverines’ status

MISSOULA – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must review wolverines’ status and determine whether the animal should be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, a judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula ruled in favor of groups that challenged the agency’s rejection of a petition to list the wolverine under the endangered species law. In a 2005 lawsuit, the groups said the wolverine is harmed by habitat disruption throughout its range and is at risk due to trapping in Montana.

In the decision last week, Molloy said the agency erred in rejecting scientific information about the wolverine – information that showed loss of range, population decline and risk from human encroachment.

Molloy issued the decision in the case filed by Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Clearwater, Conservation Northwest and the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.

The wolverine, the largest member of the weasel family, is a fierce predator that grows up to 3 to 4 feet long but takes prey as large as elk and moose. It is reclusive, inhabits remote areas and seldom is seen by casual forest visitors.

In their lawsuit, the groups said U.S. wolverines outside of Alaska are known to exist only in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Their current range is a fraction of wolverines’ historic range, the groups said.

Six years ago, environmental groups petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wolverines through the Endangered Species Act. The first step in that process is a full scientific review of wolverines’ status, which the agency declined to conduct.